BILLBOARD News Now
Three Buckets
A lot of media attention is focused on “Trump corruption”. The reporting can be put into three big buckets. Business fraud, conflicts of interest and using government power to benefit donors or Trump family interests.
Let’s start here…a $500 million UAV-back investment into a Trump-linked crypto firm, after Trump’s sons met officials from multiple foreign governments while expanding business operations abroad.
Another deal reported by The Wall Street Journal relates to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed AI Nahyan brother and national security adviser to the president of the United Arab Emirates. The Trump family’s crypto fund (World Liberty Financial) benefitted from a half-billion-dollar stake made by Tahnoon’s investment fund. Afterwards Tahnoon was successful in lobbying the White House for Emirates access to America’s most advanced A.I. chips, resulting with Tahnoon’s A. I. company getting a large portion.
Use of presidential powers, i.e. pardons, and Department of Justice actions have been used to benefit allies (donors & supporters) which have undermined accountability for fraud cases.
Not to be overlooked are “settlements” earmarked for Trump’s presidential library. Trump brought lawsuits against ABC, Paramount, Meta and X (formally) Twitter. He settled lawsuits against these huge media conglomerates for $63 million. The funds were earmarked for Trump’s presidential library. The money appeared to be directed to the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library fund which was later dissolved by Florida officials. A new entity was established…the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Foundation Inc…a tax-exempt nonprofit. The unanswered question…is “what happened to the $63 million?”
In January 2026, Trump, his sons, and the Trump Organization sued the Internal Revenue Service. They claim the government failed to protect confidential tax data and effectively allowed a leak to happen. They argue the disclosures caused financial and reputational harm. The unusual twist…is President Trump is suing his own government. Any settlement would likely come from U. S. government funds (taxpayers). The lawsuit is essentially Trump saying, “The Government failed to protect my tax data, and I want massive damages.”
A day does not go by that we do not read or observe allegations of government benefits flowing to donors/supporters. This is nothing new in the political world, but it appears the Trump administration is taking it to the extremes.
When this is looked at in total…it is called corruption because it uses presidential authority to protect himself and target rivals.
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner this evening will be available on C-SPAN. President Trump is expected to attend, marking his first time going as president.
Use icons and envelope above to forward this post to your friends.
Follow us on Twitter (X), Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook or Threads.
Manchin Declares War on EPA
Governor Manchin is preparing to lead a battle against the Obama Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) after its decision to review 23 pending coal-mine permits. He spoke with MetroNews Talkline from Berlin, Germany. Joining in the war Obama has declared on the...
Obama Takes Two Hits at West Virginia in Five Days
Last Friday world leaders in Pittsburgh for the Group of 20 summit agreed to phase out fossil fuel subsides. The Obama administration championed the wording of the statement according to The Washington Post. The wording of the statement was a signal from the world’s...
Service Employees International Union, ACORN & Healthcare
Last May when various national healthcare organizations met with President Obama at the White House I wondered why the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) was present. Of course, I recalled the major role SEIU played in the election of President Obama....
An Idea for the Gazette
Here is an idea for The Charleston Gazette. The Washington Post is asking it’s readers to weigh in as its editorial board prepares an endorsement in the Virginia gubernatorial race. Readers may send an email making a case for their candidate in 200 words or less. ...
A Must Read
Charles Krauthammer had a great column in today's Sunday Gazette-Mail. It should be read by everyone. Their web site did not carry it so I hunted it down.
West Virginia Strike Back
West Virginia needs to strike back at the Obama administration. The anti-coal mining decision to withhold approval of 79 coal mining permits needs to be answered. There is a new organization growing in Appalachia that provides such an opportunity. It supports coal...
Obama Strikes Out At West Virginia
President Obama is getting even with West Virginia that rejected him in the 2008 primary and general election. The Obama run Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made a vindictive decision today which will withhold approval of 79 coal mining permits. The President...
My Reaction
First, let me say I believe we need to find a way to provide healthcare to those who need it but without destroying our current system. I believe Americans are willing to fix the healthcare system but will not buy into schemes that break the bank. Now let’s talk...
Manchin Numbers
Governor Joe Manchin has been an outstanding Governor. This clearly explains the impressive numbers in the survey of West Virginia voters by Mark Blankenship Enterprises. Manchin’s overall approval rating was 78 percent. Unless Manchin is planning in 2012 to seek a...
Any Healthcare Bill Will Do
Obama has been struggling with healthcare reform since entering the presidency. The problem is two fold. First, he turned the drafting of legislation over to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Secondly, he never could explain what...
Does Obama Face a 2012 Challenge In His Own Party?
This Rasmussen Report I am sending to you verbatim. “Leading liberals are already thinking the unthinkable: Challenging President Obama for the Democratic nomination in 2012. According to a report on the left-leaning Huffington Post website, MSNBC host Keith...
Democrats Are Losing Independents Support
Congress returns from a summer recess on Tuesday. President Obama will address a joint session of Congress mid-week. He must believe another speech or a more “prescriptive” health care plan will put his Democrats colleagues at ease. Well, he may be too late....
BILLBOARD Archives
“Me and Mrs. Palin”
My hobby is following the national political news. This weekend I saw where Vanity Fair will hit the newsstands nationwide on September 8th with an article “Me and Mrs. Palin”. No doubt Levi Johnston – father of Bristol’s baby – has earned real money for this one. ...
West Virginia Voter Surveys
Our readers have asked if I could get a copy of the recent voter opinion surveys conducted by Mark Blankenship Enterprises (MBE). I gather not all the media have reported on the findings. The first survey addresses political favorability ratings and economic...
Democrat Governor’s Race Continues in Central WV
Central West Virginia Democrats must think the primary election for Governor is near. Serving as Marshal of the Grand Feature Parade at the Barbour County Fair this week was House Speaker Richard Thompson (D – Wayne, District 17). The Speaker is known to be...
Manchin Traveling, Tomblin Moving North
A West Virginia tradition has been for the Governor to crown the Queen at the Mountain State Forest Festival in Elkins. The Inter-Mountain has reported Governor Manchin will be on an out-of-country trip. Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin (D – Logan District 7th) will...
Democrats Can Retreat On Healthcare
Columnist Dick Morris offered an interesting perspective on how Democrats can retreat on healthcare. His theory comes from a criticism Senator Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) offered on the Obama healthcare initiative. I thought I would share the Morris piece. In the...
Keep Your Guard Up On Cap-and-Trade
The writers of the Politico piece “Obama’s Big Band could go bust” posted here earlier implies diminished prospects for winning final passage of a cap-and-trade legislation this year. I have been thinking this may not be the case. If President Obama loses the...
Republicans Don’t Get Excited
It may seem President Obama is about to replace Jimmy Carter….you know what I mean. Or, that healthcare will bring about another 1994 congressional election in 2010. Republicans don’t get excited. There is a national election atmosphere being created by the...
Perdue Is Running for Governor
A reader telephoned to share that State Treasurer John D. Perdue has announced his candidacy for Governor. Not an unexpected development. It appears he is quietly visiting county Democratic Executive Committees seeking support. In so doing he told one that he is a...
Obama’s Big Bang
For the political junkies that read phillipsbillboard.com I came across this Politico piece. I thought it was an interesting explanation of Team Obama’s policy strategy. West Virginians will be pleased to read these writers believe passage of cap-and trade’s...
Act One for WV Democrats
Act One in the 2012 Democratic gubernatorial primary played out yesterday in the Legislature. House Speaker Richard Thompson (D-Wayne) and Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin (D-Logan) both are known as wanting to be Governor. Labor supported Thompson for Speaker in...
West Virginia Wins in Senate
It has been a while since I thought about the strength of Rural America in the U. S. Senate. Today the Outlook section of The Washington Post provides an excellent insight into how small states can influence the outcome of legislation in the United States Senate. It...
New Tone in Health Care Debate
Members of Congress look forward to August when they go home. It has become a tradition. But 2009 is different. The debate in Washington over health care has now spilled over to the towns and villages throughout America. Peggy Noonan points out in her Saturday Wall...